Torahiko Tanaka

Shogi professional Tanaka's first championship as a professional came in 1981 when he defeated to 2 games to none to win the 12th Shinjin-Ō. He also won the 1st (1982), the 5th (1982), the 34th NHK Cup (1984), the 17th (1984) and the 20th (1986).

Tanaka's first appearance in a major title match came in the Spring of 1988 when he challenged Yoshikazu Minami for the 52nd Kisei title; Tanaka won the match 3 games to 2 for his only major title. The following autumn he was unable to defend his title against Makoto Nakahara, losing the 53rd Kisei title match by the same score. He finished his career with a record of 794 wins and 783 losses.

Theoretical contributions Tanaka earned the nickname "Edison of the opening" , in reference to inventor Thomas Edison, for his innovations in the opening part of the game. His opponent Daigorō Satō (White) is using a Third File Rook (developed from an earlier Fourth File Rook position).

Promotion history Tanaka's promotion history was as follows.

1972: 6-kyū 1974: 1-dan 1976, June 4: 4-dan 1981, April 1: 5-dan 1982, April 1: 6-dan 1983, April 1: 7-dan 1984, April 1: 8-dan 1994, December 16: 9-dan

Titles and other championships Tanaka appeared in major title matches twice and has won one title. In addition to major titles, Tanaka has won six other shogi championships during his career.

Awards and honors Tanaka received a number of Japan Shogi Association Annual Shogi Awards: "Best New Player" (1976), "Most Consecutive Games Won" (1976), "Best Winning Percentage" (1978, 1980, 1981 and 1983), the "Techinique Award" (1978 and 1988), and the "Fighting-spirit Award" (1981 and 1983). He also received the association's "Shogi Honor Award" in 2000 in recognition of winning 600 official games as a professional and the "25 Years Service Award" in 2001 in recognition of being an active professional for twenty-five years.

JSA director Tanaka served on the Japan Shogi Association's board of directors on multiple occasions. He was first elected as an executive director at the association's 56th General Meeting for a two-year term on May 26, 2005, and then re-elected to the same position in May 2007 and May 2011. He was re-elected as a director in December 2012, Tanaka was chosen to be the JSA's senior managing director to replace Kōji Tanigawa after the latter was chosen to replace Kunio Yonenaga, who died earlier in the month, as president.